The Washington critic., 1887-10-18
THE WALLED-IN ROOM.


me. A man was leaning over my bed;
near the man stood woman with
bonnet with great white wings on the
sides, holding in her hand o moist
compress. The room was plain and
neat, with clean white walls. On q
table covered with great napkin of
yellow linen / noted number of
strange objects-rows of little Walls and
brown earthen jar with bits of ice.
Through the muslin curtains, which
bellied out from the window In the
balmy air, could see patch of blue
sky and the tops of green trees bending
lightly In the breeze. Where was 1?
1t seemed like long dream that had
had; my head felt empty, my limbs
ached and could not think.
The man gently lifted my head and
gave me few drops of some liquid,
which swallowed with avidity.
"Well, Mr.. FurnIss," he said, chow
do you feel p
"Eh, what?" / cried. "Where am I?'
"You are In my house, my dear sir,
and we shall take good care of you.
Now, }" he added, replacing my head on
the pillow, "be quiet and go to sleep"
gazed at him for long time, and
all at once / recognized DR.. Bertram,
the celebrated specialist In insanity.
A shudder passed through my frame.
Why was In DR.. Bertram's hospital
instead of In my own home, near
Phoenix Park, with my books, my mi
scroscopes around me2 His hospital
was for mad people and that sister of
charity, those vials, that bowl of ice
my God, l must be mad 4! But why
How2
"How long have l been here ?" l
asked, after time.
"For four weeks, Mr.. Furniss. But
you must be quiet and sleep. Now do
not try to talk"
For month Was It possible2
What had happened 2 But even as l
asked myself these questions little by
little went off to sleep, and saw, In
billowy meadow, a road covered
with blood and bordered on either side
with monstrous microscopes shaped
like trees, road on which two little
girls played at pitch and catch with u
severed head, while DR.. Bertram, com.
ically bonneted with religious cap.
rode astride Of dead body, which
reared and pranced and kicked till he
could scarce keep his seat.
The next morning was better, and
day by day l improved, though that
horrible nightmare came to me each
night. But 1t grew less and less dis.
tinct, and In few weeks 1t almost
ceased TO trouble me.
One evening the doctor, whom had
not seen during the day, seated himself
near my bed.
well" said he. feeling my pulse,
''you are doing famously. I'll have
you out, as good as new, in few days.
But you've had close shave. 1t has
bral congestion l ever handled
beautiful case. Why, it's wonder
you are alive now. Tell me, how Is
happened before you were brought
here2'
IL don't know, / cannot think
have passed through something fear.
full. What 1t is, l cannot say. From
the faint glimmer of recollection that
comes to me, l have the sensation of hav
ing been dead-murdered o, II is
frightful. My brain is weak yet.
Then, the child, a pretty golden. haired
child-rolling on the floor"
Come, come, this will never do"
said the doctor. "You can tell me all
about 1t In the morn"
mo, now DOCTOR" cried. at Is
coming back to me. Yes, l have 1t
now."
Here Is an exact transcript of my
recital as l told II to DR.. Betram and ,
later to the mapIstrate
You know my passion for natural
history. Well, scarcely week passes
that ] do not go into the country
botanizing. That day went to Glac.
nevin, where, as you know, the marshy
meadows are rich In curious plants, In.
fusoria and diatoms. was returning,
and was almost In Dublin with my box
full of rare specimens, on which ex.
pected to make a report that would
astonish the botanical society, when !
saw little girl, certainly not more
than or 9 years old, who was ali
alone, crying as If her little heart
would break. l approached her, but
at sight of me she redoubled her cries.
could see that the little one was lost
and that she did not know where
to go, so l spoke to her kindly, and
by dint of promising her unlimited
bonbons, got her to tell me that hel
name was Lizzie, and that she lived
near Beresford place In Lower Abbey
street. took her hand, and we soon
started off, talking together like old
friends. She was beautiful child
fresh and rosy, with great candid eyes
and fair hair, which was cut short oveI
her eyes and fell In golden ringlets
over her shoulders. Shetrotted bravely
along, her soft, little hand holding my
great, ruddy paw conadingly, AS W,
walked she told me remarkable tales
In which figured big. black horse, t
little knife. doll and a number Of
people did not know.
Lizzie was afraid she would be
scolded when she arrived home, bu
she was not, and IL was received
with transports by her mother, who
was half distracted. Never was graft
tude expressed so heartily and pleas
antly. Who was |, where did live
how did l happen to find her, and I
thousand like questions were showered
upon me.
ooh, Mr.. Furniss, said the mother
''you are the saYior of my child. How
can we express our gratitude? W.
are not rich, but such a debt cannO
be paid In gold. How happy my
husband will be to repeat my thank'
to you. He is still at his office, but
will you do us great kindness, will yol
honor our humble board to morrow
aI,an n.xt